He lost his balance when the foot released its captive after he gave a particularly hard tug. He allowed his momentum to send him into a graceful over-the-shoulder roll and jumped to his feet complaining, "You could have helped me, Kermit."

"You looked like you were doing fine on your own, Peter. Besides, the floor looked like it could use a little dusting." He easily ducked the half-hearted backhand the grinning Peter sent his way. "You're in an awfully chipper mood for someone who just got handed a year's worth of paperwork."

Peter tried to recapture his earlier scowl, and failed miserably as his hazel eyes danced. "If Kacie's checkup goes well today, we'll be moving home tomorrow."

"He-e-ey, Peter. That's great! The Blaisdell Convalescent Home does its magic again, huh?"

Peter's face glowed. "Between Pop's herbs and Mom's cooking, Kacie's gained back five pounds already. Paul takes her out for walks and they putter around in the flower garden together." His throat tightened and he swallowed hard. "Jesus, Kermit. It's a miracle to see her look like this."

Kermit nodded solemnly and asked softly, "How long's it been, Peter?"

"A month. A month ago yesterday that we left our home thinking it was going to be just another day." Peter's eyes darkened and he gulped. "I am one lucky son-of-a-gun."

Kermit's eyebrows nearly met his hairline. "Lucky?"

Hazel eyes burned into brown. "How many kidnap cases have you worked where a victim's family didn't end up burying somebody?"

The pair was interrupted by the frosty tones of a new voice. "A victim's family did end up burying somebody."

Kermit and Peter swiveled their heads to stare at the woman who approached them. She was tall, with pale blonde hair and onyx-colored eyes that glared malevolently at both detectives. "My brother was murdered in this city, and your police department isn't doing a damned thing about it."

Kermit's eyes glittered dangerously from behind his green lenses. "At the risk of sounding rude, ma'am, who are you and what are you talking about?"

The woman stared defiantly, eye to eye with the two detectives. "My name is Tammy Wright. Jason Fischer was my brother. Judging by your failure to come up with any leads, that obviously wouldn't matter to you." Her lips curled into a sneer.

Peter's face reddened and he felt his scalp tingle at the woman's unfair accusations. "What makes you think it doesn't matter to us when someone is killed or almost killed?"

Kermit stepped swiftly in front of his friend. "The case is still under investigation. If you have any questions, I would be happy to introduce you to our captain."

Ms. Wright snorted in derision. "Her? I just came from her office. Before she put me off with a so-called important telephone call, she said you'd found nothing. I say there's nothing because that's the way you want it to be. I know all about the blue wall."

Peter took a step forward. "Now wait just a da--"

Kermit ground his heel onto Peter's toe and blocked the angry man's forward progress. "Our precinct isn't even the one conducting the major investigation. That would be the 86th, where your brother's body was discovered."

"That's the same thing your captain said, and I don't believe you any more than I did her. I know what you're all doing. You're closing ranks around that-that-that Detective Caine. He's the one responsible for my brother's death."

Kermit's voice was eerily soft. "Just how do you figure that, Mrs.--"

"Ms."

"Ms. Wright. Peter Caine was nowhere near your brother when he was killed."

"I've had my people doing research on Caine and his family. He has connections to the Chinatown community, and also to a major crime family there. I not only am going to prove he's responsible for my brother's death, I'm going to prove he's a dirty cop, too."

Peter shouldered Kermit aside. "You're going to have a hell of a time proving something that isn't true."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because I'm Peter Caine. Yes, I have a connection to the Chinatown community. My father lives there, and I have friends there. But to say that I'm connected to a major crime family there is a lot of --"

Simms's voice broke in. "Caine. My office. Now."

"Just a minute, Captain. I'm not through here." Peter's eyes flashed, refusing to look away from Ms. Wright's fierce stare.

"NOW, Detective Caine."

"Better run along and talk to the lady while she's still your boss, Caine," Wright hissed. "If I have my way, it won't be for much longer."

Peter opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say a word, Strenlich strode up and literally yanked him away from the potentially explosive scene. "Captain said she wanted to see us now, Detective Caine. You know how she hates to be kept waiting." The burly officer kept a firm grip on the younger man's arm as they hustled into Simms's office.

"Ms. Wright, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do," Kermit spoke politely, muscles twitching at the corner of his jaw. "Do you know the way out, or would you like me to show you?"

"Don't bother. I can find my way. Be forewarned, Detective. I intend to have satisfaction in this matter. Do we understand one another?"

Kermit nodded slowly. "I would say so. But be very careful, Ms. Wright. Making unfounded accusations can have far-reaching consequences." He smiled from the teeth out. "Do we understand one another?"

She tossed her head back and sucked in a sharp breath. "Are you threatening me?"

Kermit removed his sunglasses and carefully wiped them clean on his handkerchief as he spoke. "Hardly. I don't make idle threats." Sliding the glasses back into place, he continued. "I don't make promises I can't keep, and I don't quit until a job is done." He flashed his teeth again. "Will there be anything else, Ms. Wright?"

"No. But don't think I'm done with you all yet."

"I wouldn't presume." He watched as the angry woman turned on her heel and stalked away. Striding off to his own office, he muttered ominously. "Don't think I'm done with you, either. Two hours at my computer and I'll know more about you than you do, lady."

Simms jerked the cord that lowered her blinds with a resounding crash.

Peter ripped his arm away from Strenlich's bruising grasp and snarled, "What the hell was all that about? What did you think I was going to do?"

Simms folded her arms over her chest. "I don't know, Detective. Why don't you tell us? What were you going to do?"

"I was...I was..." Peter kicked a chair, sending it skittering across the room. "I was about to tell her just exactly what I thought of her dearly departed brother."

Simms closed her eyes briefly and shook her head. "Peter, that woman is the reason you, your father, and your wife were grilled by the detectives from the 86th, and why our own IA has been on you about everything from the way you cut your hair to what color of socks you wear. Ms. Wright told me point-blank that she's out to prove you're on the take and that our entire precinct is corrupt."

"That's ridiculous!" Peter raged, arms flailing wildly as he gestured in the direction of the squad room. "Didn't anyone tell her what her brother was doing when he was killed? Does she have any idea what kind of sick monster he was? Does she know what he almost did to my wife and baby?"

Raising a hand to stem the flood of words, Simms tried to speak calmly. "She's not thinking rationally right now. She's only remembering the brother she helped raise."

"Did a hell of a job, didn't she?" Peter sneered.

"That remark, Detective, is why you are standing in here instead of out there."

Peter started to object to his captain's words, but she refused him the opportunity to speak. "Ms. Wright has the money, the position, and the influence to ruin your career. I didn't see a need to give her any more ammunition than she already has."

"What ammunition? I haven't done anything wrong. This precinct hasn't done anything wrong. Nobody's trying to hide anyth..." He stopped abruptly, remembering Wong's words. {"Did you notice how neatly the package was wrapped, Caine? No loose ends. I hate loose ends, don't you?"}

Simms watched him closely, seeing his hesitation. "Are you sure?"

Peter shook his head, teeth clenched tightly. "Yes, I'm sure. What? You think I'm dirty, too?"

When she didn't immediately respond, he laughed harshly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Strenlich's face reddened. "Hold on, Pete. Nobody said anything --"

"That's my point," Peter said quietly, a combination of anger and hurt gleaming from his eyes. "Can I get back to work now, Captain? Or don't I work here anymore?"

Simms massaged her temples with her fingertips. "Caine..."

"Which is it? Do I or don't I?"

She huffed out a breath of air in exasperation. "You do."

Jaw set in grim lines, he reached the door in two long strides.

"Detective?"

He paused wordlessly, one hand gripping the doorknob, his back to her as he stood waiting, stiff and angry.

"You do, and I consider you one of my best."

Peter walked out without another word, closing the door quietly but firmly behind himself.

Strenlich and Simms exchanged long looks. "You can't possibly think her accusations are true," Frank stated grimly.

"Of course not." She snapped. "But I do think that Ms. Wright is very capable of causing trouble for Detective Caine. His methods over the years have been, shall we say...unconventional. And after what he and his family have gone through this past month, he's also very volatile." She paused a moment, staring off into space thoughtfully, recalling Wright's wild accusations toward Peter and the city police officers in general. "I don't have a good feeling about this, Chief. Not at all."

To Part 8

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